Day 1

On arrival in Lille we planned our route from our hotel to the ground, we decided that maybe for the first day we would play safe and take a taxi a decision that was wise and one we took daily. We did actually walk home every night through the Citadelle (pictures in day 3) a fort built by Louis XIV, but by then the local ale had kicked in.

A view of Lille HC Metropole from the bridge adjacent the club.

All day 1 pictures Here

The day started with a display from Oranje Zwart against Dinamo Moscow that can only be described as impressive, a slow start, 3-2 to Oranje Zwart at half time, ending in a 9-2 score line leaving us thinking that it could not get any better than that, then Club de Campo walked onto the pitch and demolished the Polish side SKS Start Gniezo 7-1 (below).

Then the main event of the day for us, Cannock v CUS Bologna, a side which you would have thought on first impression were at the wrong event, the programme indicating that the oldest member of the team being 43 but boy did they play well making Cannock work hard for there 6 nil win. Finally the home side against the German side Uhlenhorster HC, a 2-1 win to UHC, what a game, both sides pushed to the limits, a fantastic end to the first day.

A few Stella's then into town for a bit of site seeing and some

Click here for Day 2